The south east corner of our borough comes under the spotlight in the latest of the council's popular series of walking maps. Amidst the tranquil countryside of Astley Green and Bedford Moss, there’s evidence of a fascinating industrial past that is explored in two new ‘walks for health.’
A one and a half mile stroll around Astley Green takes in Whitehead Hall Meadow (a National Lottery funded 'Millennium Green') and the picturesque Bridgewater Canal, before finishing up at Astley Green Colliery Museum on Higher Green Lane. The museum occupies 15 acres of the century old colliery site. As well as the steam winding engine and headgear it has a collection of 28 colliery locomotives and is the largest of its type in the UK.
The museum is now run by the Red Rose Steam Society, and is open on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays from 1pm to 5pm. For more information visit the website at www.agcm.org.uk (external link).
Walk two, around Bedford Moss, starts at Marsland Green Lane before heading off towards Rixton Clay Pigeon Club, through the moss and on to Astley Raceway. Bedford Moss is part of the ancient Chat Moss. Engineer George Stephenson built a railway through the mosslands in 1829, and the wooden bundles he used to float the line are still in place today. The Liverpool and Manchester Railway was the world's first inter-city passenger line. A copy of the Astley Green and Bedford Moss walking map is available by ringing 01942 404377 or email rightsofway@wigan.gov.uk
Others in the series include Worthington and Haigh, Aspull and Hindley, and Pennington Flash and Bickershaw.
Wigan Council has direct responsibility for the borough’s 477km of public rights of way. If you know of a problem with a footpath or bridleway, you can report it by phoning 01942 404377.
